Sinead O'Connor Quotes

I gave myself the nickname 'Bipolar Rock N' Roller' way back in the 1990s, when - as much as we don't talk about mental health now - back then it was almost nonexistent. And if it was broached, it was done in a very pejorative way.

It can be difficult for people to talk about it, because there still is that stigma around mental illness. But I would encourage people to do that, because they'll be surprised once they do 'come out' how many other people have had similar experiences.

There are lots of people with mental health disabilities, and that's just the way their life is; it's not like you see it in the movies.

People accuse me of glamorizing mental illness. Looking back sometimes, that's true. But I don't feel guilty.

Mental illness is the last frontier. The gay thing is part of everyday life now on a show like 'Modern Family,' but mental illness is still full of stigma. Maybe it is time for that to change.

The guilt I felt for having a mental illness was horrible. I prayed for a broken bone that would heal in six weeks. But that never happened. I was cursed with an illness that nobody could see and nobody knew much about.

There's such a stigma around mental illness, and this idea that you're going to come off as disturbed or weak somehow by being open about these things. I've never felt embarrassed or shy talking about it; it's such an integral part of my life.

There are people with much bigger profiles than mine who are talking about mental illness. I am going to try to use whatever platform I have, whatever voice I have to help eliminate the stigma.

I am privileged to have people around me who understand mental illnesses and mental health. However, the stigma around it is huge.

Despite being commonplace, too many people with mental health problems still face stigma, prejudice and discrimination.

It's so important that we figure out a way of moving beyond the stigma that still exists around treatment for mental health.

My honesty about mental illness has helped open a door for real conversation, and I think Justin wants to continue that conversation. He has put no restrictions on me. His father couldn't. Why should he try?

That's like making fun of a maniac because his brain isn't completely right, because he isn't in the norm.

Some people say I'm unique, that there aren't other people with schizophrenia like me. Well, there are people like me out there, but the stigma is so great that they don't come forward.

I want to show that the dividing lines between sanity and mental illness have been drawn in the wrong place.

I attribute the black tones in my films to Stephen King, Tim Burton, Joe Hill and Richard Matheson. However, most of my writing is influenced by mental health. I'm incredibly passionate about shedding light on the stigmas associated with mental illnesses.

I am mentally ill. I can say that. I am not ashamed of that. I survived that, I'm still surviving it, but bring it on. Better me than you.

The funny thing about insane people is that it is kind of the opposite of being a celebrity. Nobody envies you.

We develop social systems for the handicapped, but when you're handicapped in your mind, society doesn't handle those situations well. I think we don't recognize or acknowledge the power of messages and how deeply affected we all are by the messages we receive from the media.

Getting to have an opportunity to tell a story that is about mental illness and how it affects one's self and one's community was really something that really meant a lot to me.

When you've been locked up in a mental institution, people are going to ask questions. It was OK, because I didn't have to act perfect all the time.

I am repeatedly asked in interviews exactly 'what's wrong' with me, and I always give them the same answer; I don't identify the name of my condition in an interview unless it's relevant to the context of the story.

In an ideal world, it would not take a film star to get the media focused on mental illness.

The only reason I've shared my story is to take that tiny baby step of breaking down the stigma attached to depression.

We recognize incidents of metal illness, and at the same time we stigmatize people who suffer from it or seek help to deal with it.